Detergent and method of forming same



Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM B. 52133, or DECATUR, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOB, BY HESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO IGOLEABY 3308. INC A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE DETERGENT AND METHOD OF FORMING BAKE No Drawing. Application filed Kay 8, 1928, Serial Ho. 278,194. Renewed larch 2, 1832.

corrosive action, yet capable of furnishing when dissolved an abundance of active ions of a nature to accomplish the desired purose.

It has been found that a. compound derived from a mixture of silica, sodium oxide and phosphate in the proportions hereinafter stated results in a complex substance possessing these and other roperties to a degree not achieved in hereto ore discovered compounds of this nature.

More specifically the above combination of ingredients has been found to liberate a reater quantity of active hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water which quantity normally is not less than 40 per cent even at relatively low temperatures. At the same time, however, the detergent contains but a small amount as e. g., not more than .050 per cent of free alkali. The proportions employed and the presence of the particular buffer agents apparently from the results obtained serve to liberate a large amount of caustic agents as required but at no time being of sufiicient concentration to result in corrosive action.

The resulting detergent has been found to possess superior water softening roperties and capable of operating success ully with soaps in salt water, and has in general been observed to improve and increase the physical action of soaps in the process of deterging with less tenderin or corrosive action on cloth fiber and certain metals than would result from the use of any similar compound heretofore made which furnishes an equal concentration of available sodium oxide.

The objects of this invention are further directed to the provision of a detergent which will successfully replace soaps in the process of degum-ming silk with less corrosive or tendering action to the material than would result from the use of soaps or any similar material furnishing an e uivalent amount of sodium or potassium oxide heretofore used 1n such processes and at the same time requirmg asmaller quantity of the em loyed substance. The product possesses urther desirable characteristics in that it is capable of liberating its entire amount of available sodium oxide at lower temperatures than have heretofore been successfully accomplished in the process of degumming silk and thereby preventing shrinkage and derangemer t of the fibers occurring from the use of similar materials at higher temperatures.

Other objects include the provision of a detergent possessing certain desired hysical properties, as e. g., its use does not heat the water and prevents delays resulting therefrom when used for certain purposes. The detergent possesses great stability and can be handled, exposed and stored without deleterious effects. It does not melt under summer temperatures and can be ground to the dgslred form without causing melting there- 0 Another important feature of the inventlon resides in the process of making the detergent which eliminates the necessity of steam jacketing the mixer or other similar operations frequently resorted to. The formation of the compound is accomplished with greater ease and convenience and is taken from the mixer in a state requiring less grindin than in most cases found necessary.

In or or to produce a compound in a hydrated condition formed of silica, sodium oxide and phosphate, which will crystallize and remain in solid condition under atmospheric conditions and summer temperatures, I combine these ingredients according to the following proportions, to wit:

tions desirable are dependent upon t e conditions obtaining and the particular use to which the detergent is put. The detergent is of course actually made from commercial ingredients such as silicate of soda (amorphous), causticized ash which is a commercial com ound consisting primarily of sodium h roxide and impurities an sodium acid pli osphate which may contain other compounds or impurities and the above formula therefore indicates the molecular proportions only of the particular ingredients found to be of primary importance and forming the basis of my detergent.

An important feature of this invention relates to the rocess which it has been discovered may be advantageously employed to result in the roduct desired. A complex substance in a ydrated condition formed of the above ingredients may be made in the following manner; the in redients are placed in a mechanical mixing device consisting of a bowl or container equipped with rotary agitating blades and the speed of the device thereafter variably controlled to create or eliminate friction at the proper times and thereby also the temperature. The variation in speed may be governed in any suitable manner as by a variable speed electric driving motor. Any suitable mechanical mixer may be employed, as e. g., the well known Day imperial kneading and mixing machine in which a swivably supported container is provided with oppositely rotating agitating arms. It is to be noted, however, that one of the advantages of the present process and substance constituting my detergent resides in the fact that no heating such as steam jacketing of the mixer is required.

Illustrative of the process the following takes place as a typical example of how my detergent may be manufactured: All of the ingredients are entered into the mixer which is then covered with a lid and the agitators operated at a rapid speed during which time the temperature rises to say 150 to 160 F. and the mixture is converted into a paste or plastic state. The agitation is continued for an hour or more the temperature gradually becoming lower. The lid is then removed and the speed reduced to thereby reduce friction and the mixture cools at a more ra id rate. The material in becoming cool grat ually begins to solidify and break into crystals. The speed control is lar ely a matter determined by observation, t e faster the speed,

and greater the friction the slower the mixture is to solidify. After the material becomes fairly well solidified the speed is again increased at which time the material breaks into smaller particles. The compound is then allowed to slack for a period of time and later is ground to a powder.

The compound made according to the above formula and process does not require the use of heat for boiling or fusing the materials and comes from the mixer in a hydrated condition requiring no further conditioning before grinding. The crystals are relatively small and can be ground to a finer consistency without melting than compounds heretofore made.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the follow claims Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A detergent in a hydrated condition, and which is formed of silica, sodium oxide and sodium acid phosphate according to the following proportions as representing any number within the values 5 to 6.5 inclusive.

2. A detergent in a hydrated condition formed of one molecular weight of silica dioxide, :1: molecular weights of sodium oxide and m minus four molecular weights of disodium phosphate anhydrous, w having a value within the range of 5 to 6.6 inclusive, containing not more than .050 per cent free alkali.

3. A detergent in a hydrated condition formed of one molecular weight of silica dioxide, a: molecular weights of sodium oxide and a; minus four molecular weights of disodium phosphate anhydrous, m representing any number within the values 5 to 6.5 inclusive, which will liberate not less than 40 per cent sodium oxide as active h droxyl ions when dissolved in water at re atively low temperatures approaching 50 F.

4. A detergent in a hydrated condition comprising one molecular weight of silica dioxide, six and one half molecular weights of sodium oxide and two and one half molecular weights of di-sodium phosphate.

5. A method of forming a detergent consisting of mixing silicate of soda, causticized ash, and sodium phosphate in the proportionate quantities, and agitating said mixture in a manner and at a speed to form a plastic substance according to the following proportions a: having a value within the range 5 to 6.5 inclusive; and controlling the speed of agitation to permit solidification.

6. A method of forming a deter nt in a hydrated condition consisting o placing quantities of silicate of soda, causticized ash, and sodium phosphate in an agitator receptacle in the required proportionate quantities; subjecting the substances to the action of an agitator to form a plastic substance having substantially the following proportions a! representing any number within the range of 5 to 6.5 inclusive; controlling the agitation to permit solidification of the substance; and breaking up the solidified substance by continued operation of the agitator.

7. A method of forming a detergent having substantially the following ingredients and proportions- :v representin any number within the range of 5 to 6.5 inc usive, consisting of mixing the required quantities of the ingredients; agi- 25 tating said mixture in a manner and at a speed to form a lastic mass and reducing the speed of agitation to permit crystallization of the mass.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe w my name.

WILLIAM K. SPEER.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,855,776. Granted April 26, 1932, to

WILLIAM K. same.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 101, claim 2. for the numeral "6.6" read 6.5; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of June, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore, :1 eai} Acting Commissioner of Patents.

6. A method of forming a deter nt in a hydrated condition consisting o placing quantities of silicate of soda, causticized ash, and sodium phosphate in an agitator receptacle in the required proportionate quantities; subjecting the substances to the action of an agitator to form a plastic substance having substantially the following proportions a! representing any number within the range of 5 to 6.5 inclusive; controlling the agitation to permit solidification of the substance; and breaking up the solidified substance by continued operation of the agitator.

7. A method of forming a detergent having substantially the following ingredients and proportions- :v representin any number within the range of 5 to 6.5 inc usive, consisting of mixing the required quantities of the ingredients; agi- 25 tating said mixture in a manner and at a speed to form a lastic mass and reducing the speed of agitation to permit crystallization of the mass.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe w my name.

WILLIAM K. SPEER.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,855,776. Granted April 26, 1932, to

WILLIAM K. same.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 101, claim 2. for the numeral "6.6" read 6.5; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of June, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore, :1 eai} Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

